Once again I have no clue who’s winning or losing, but it wouldn’t matter because I can’t focus. As Jase plays his hand of cards, his fingers run up and down my flesh, leaving a burning sensation in their wake. As his hand travels farther up, I clench my thighs together. He isn’t going to do what I think he is…
He glances my way, asking for permission, and without even thinking twice I open my legs for him—Jesus, when did I become so easy? His fingers find my panties, but he doesn’t move them to the side. Instead, he teases me from the outside. His one finger trails up and down my slit through the thin material, and I squirm in my seat. I know I’m wet, probably drenched. There’s no way anybody can know what he’s doing, or see my reaction, yet I feel like all eyes are on us.
I can’t believe I’m letting him do this. I don’t even know this guy. For all I know, he does this with every girl he meets. I’m well aware everyone our age hooks up at parties, but that’s never been who I am. Easy girls don’t end up married to powerful men. They end up their mistresses.
Feeling like things are moving too quickly, I reach down and take his hand in mine. If he’s annoyed I stopped him, he doesn’t show it. He just continues to play poker one-handed like that’s completely normal.
Jase wins for the third time, and the guys all groan. He leans over and presses his lips to mine. “One more hand and then I’m done,” he murmurs against my mouth. Before I back up, his tongue darts out and licks across my bottom lip. “Mmm…you taste good…sweet.”
Less than ten minutes later, Jase wins. “I’m out,” he announces as we stand. My eyes move to the front door, where I spot Killian Blake walking in. He glares my way, and I roll my eyes. Killian is Nick’s other best friend. They met their freshman year of college. He’s in his senior year at NCU and was recently drafted to the New York Brewers in the first round. To say we can’t stand each other is a gross understatement. It’s a good thing Jase is done playing poker and guiding me away from where Killian is walking toward. Had we stayed, I know, without a doubt, Killian would’ve made it a point to talk shit about me to Jase.
“So, you mentioned you recently graduated,” I say to Jase, trying to get to know him as he pulls me toward the kitchen. Both of our cups are empty, so I’m assuming he’s going to refill them.
“Yeah, I received my business degree.” He takes my empty cup from me and sets it on the counter next to his. He drops a few ice cubes into both cups then pours some alcohol into them. Then he tops them off with a new can of sprite. “Cheers,” he says, handing me my cup and taking a large drink from his own.
“Cheers,” I say back. My sip is far smaller. Unlike Jase, who must be a good six feet tall, almost two hundred pounds, and clearly a seasoned drinker, my tiny one hundred and ten pound body can only handle so much alcohol before I’m drunk.
“Jase! Get your ass over here!” someone yells. “Drinking game!”
Jase laughs but shakes his head. “Nah, next time!”
“Now, bro,” the guy demands. Jase gives me a look, silently asking if I mind. Not wanting to be the girl who takes him away from his friends, who he obviously came here tonight to see, I nod my okay.
“Fine, what game?” Jase yells over the music.
“Never have I ever!” a bleach-blonde girl shouts. I’ve seen her around NCU a few times, and I pray she doesn’t ask me if I go there. “You in?” she asks me, not giving a shit about where I’m from.
“Sure.” I hold up my drink.
Everyone goes around the room calling out things they’ve never done, and those who’ve done them have to drink:
Gotten wasted—most drink
Stolen their parent’s car—a few drink
Went skinny-dipping—most drink
Smoked weed—almost everyone drinks
Had a three-some—only a couple drink
And then some girl yells through a fit of drunken laughter, “Had sex.” I watch as everyone around me drinks and laughs at her because she’s just announced that she’s still a virgin. Until she joins in with everyone else and downs her drink. “Whoops! My bad!” She laughs harder.
Jase’s eyes go to mine, and I realize I haven’t taken a drink. I tip my cup back and take a large gulp. He smiles and raises his cup in a ‘cheers’ motion, so I do the same.
The questions continue for a little while longer, but when Jase notices that I’ve run out of alcohol, he excuses us from the game. We head out the back door and onto the patio. There are people out here, but not as many. With the door closed, the music is now muffled, allowing us to hear each other better. We walk down the dock and find an empty spot on the beach. In contrast to the warm weather we’ve been having lately, it’s a bit chilly tonight, but luckily there’s hardly any breeze. In an attempt to look good, I didn’t think to bring a jacket.